What is the evidence that wearing hi-vis clothing makes you a safer cyclist?

Roads minister suggests making bright kit mandatory for cyclists in Britain - but what's the evidence to back up the claim that this could help increase safety?

For several seasons now hi-vis has been fashionable for bike wear. But last month roads minister Jesse Norman suggested that the government’s wide-ranging review of cycle safety would consider if cyclists should be compelled to wear high-visibility clothing if there was evidence for it.

What evidence is there that supports wearing hi-vis clothing?

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Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.